Minn. High School Security Guard Placed on Leave After Being Accused of Using Excessive Force on Muslim Teen

An Apple Valley, Minn., high school security guard was put on administrative leave after he was accused of using excessive force during an altercation involving students.

According to the Star Tribune, the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district placed Jason Rieck on leave pending an investigation into the incident, which led to a student’s removal from the school by Apple Valley police.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has even gotten involved, accusing Rieck of using excessive force in removing a Muslim student during the incident, and is currently calling on the school district to discipline Rieck.

In a statement released over the weekend, CAIR said that the female Muslim student, who is 15, was being targeted by a male student who called her a terrorist. The two students got into an altercation, and the school security guard intervened, along with a school resource officer.

“The security guard focused completely on her,” Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of CAIR, told the Tribune on Monday. “He proceeded to grab her.”

The school resource officer called for backup, and three Apple Valley police officers responded. The girl was taken to the Police Department and was questioned and released (this seems like a lot ... ).

The girl later accused the school resource officer of pulling off her hijab and putting her in handcuffs.

“I’m scared for my safety at Apple Valley High School,” the teen told the Star Tribune. “I feel very threatened.”

The teen was originally suspended, but that was later removed and she was allowed to return to school on Monday.

There have been no complaints made against the school resource officer involved in the incident, Apple Valley Police Capt. Nick Francis said, adding that the investigation continues.

“We are continuing to try to speak with other students in the area, or any witnesses,” Francis said.

Read more at the Star Tribune.